Trump condemns ‘horrible, cowardly’ Arish terrorist attack

CAIRO – 24 November 2017: American president Donald Trump has condemned the terrorist attack that hit a mosque in Arish, North Sinai, on Friday killing 235 people.

Trump described the attack as “horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers,” adding that the world cannot tolerate terrorism; “we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!” he tweeted.

Horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers in Egypt. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017

A number of terrorists stormed Al Rawdah mosque in west Arish City during Friday prayers, and detonated an explosive device. The mosque was damaged as a result of the bomb.

Eyewitnesses said the terrorists set fire in cars that belonged to residents and blocked the road in Al Rawdah Village.

Security and medical sources in the attacked area reported that forces halted traffic on Arish-Qantara Road, and deployed ambulance vehicles to transport the injured to the hospital.

Egypt has launched a prolonged anti-terror crackdown few years ago, trying to uproot extremists based in North Sinai. The crackdown has claimed scores of lives of terrorists whose attacks mainly targeted police and military personnel.